Habitat Management Plan for

Vinegar Hill Wildlife Management Area 2016 – 2025

S. L. Brandon

Division of Fishand Wildlife

BureauofWildlife

65561StateRoute10, Suite1, Stamford,New York12167

June 14,2016

Prepared by:

Selinda Brandon, Biologist 1 (Wildlife), Michael Echtner, Forester 1,

Ben Peters, Forester 1, and Paul Farley, Forestry Technician 2

Young Forest Initiative

Lany Bifaro, Biologist I (Wildlife)

WMA Land Manager

Reviewed and approved by;

June 15, 2016 Miclhael Clark, Regional Wildlife Manager Date

Bureau ofWildlife

Date

Patricia Riexinger, Director \ Date Division of Fish and Wildlife Resources

~~~ Financial support for development ofthis Habitat Management Plan was provided by the Federal Aid ~ z in Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program and non-federal funds administered by the New York d\.. ~ State Department of Environmental Conservation inc luding Habitat & Access Stamp funds.--roAA'\

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................................... 3 I. BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION................................................................................................ 3 PURPOSE OF HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLANS .................................................................................. 3 WMA OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................ 5 LANDSCAPE CONTEXT ..................................................................................................................... 8 II. MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES BY HABITAT TYPE ............................................................................... 9 FOREST ............................................................................................................................................ 9 SHRUBLAND ................................................................................................................................... 14 GRASSLAND ................................................................................................................................... 15 AGRICULTURAL LAND ................................................................................................................... 16 WETLANDS (NATURAL AND IMPOUNDED) ..................................................................................... 16 OPEN WATER (WATERBODIES AND WATERCOURSES) ................................................................... 17 HABITAT MANAGEMENT SUMMARY .............................................................................................. 18 III. FIGURES .................................................................................................................................. 19 IV. APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................. 25 APPENDIX A: DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................ 25 APPENDIX B. STATEMENT OF CONFORMITY WITH SEQRA............................................................ 28 APPENDIX C: FOREST MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS ................................................................... 30 APPENDIX D: AMENDMENTS.......................................................................................................... 33

LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1. Location and access features at Vinegar Hill WMA. ................................................... 19

FIGURE 2. Significant ecological communities on Vinegar Hill WMA. ....................................... 20

FIGURE 3. Wetlands, open water, and streams of Vinegar Hill WMA. ........................................ 21

FIGURE 4. Land cover types and conservation lands in the landscape surrounding Vinegar Hill

WMA. ........................................................................................................................................... 22

FIGURE 5. Percent cover of land cover types within three miles of Vinegar Hill WMA. ............. 23

FIGURE 6. Habitat types and location(s) of proposed management on Vinegar Hill WMA….... 24

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SUMMARY Vinegar Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is currently managed for forested and early successional habitats including grasslands and was historically managed as a deer wintering yard. This WMA was created via three land acquisitions between 1970 and 1975. Most of the property was given to the state as a gift with the stipulation that it become a Game Refuge. Hunting and/or trapping are not allowed though other recreational opportunities such as wildlife observation are allowed and encouraged. This WMA is located within the Catskill Park, which consists of 287,500 acres of primarily forested state owned land.

Habitat management goals for Vinegar Hill WMA include: Managing approximately 11% of the WMA as young forest (12% of the total forested

area) to promote American woodcock, white-tailed deer, and varying hare habitat; Maintaining approximately 74% as natural forest to provide habitat for forest-interior

wildlife such as scarlet tanager; Managing approximately 6% as grasslands; Allowing approximately 2% of early successional shrublands to convert to young forest

habitat; and Maintaining approximately 2% as wetlands.

Approximately 5% of the WMA’s habitat consists of easements maintained by New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG) and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP).

I. BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION

PURPOSE OF HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLANS

BACKGROUND Active management of habitats to benefit wildlife populations is a fundamental concept of wildlife biology, and has been an important component of wildlife management in New York for decades. Beginning in 2015, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) initiated a holistic planning process for wildlife habitat management projects. Habitat Management Plans (HMPs) are being developed for WMAs and other properties administered by DFW Bureau of Wildlife, including select Multiple Use and Unique Areas. The goal of HMPs is to guide habitat management decision-making on those areas to benefit wildlife and facilitate wildlife-dependent recreation. HMPs guide management for a ten year time period, after which the plans and progress on implementation will be assessed and HMPs will be modified as needed.

HMPs serve as the overarching guidance for habitat management on WMAs. These plans incorporate management recommendations from Unit Management Plans (UMPs), existing

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WMA habitat management guidelines, NY Natural Heritage Program’s WMA Biodiversity Inventory Reports, Bird Conservation Area guidelines, and other documents available for individual WMAs.

SCOPE AND INTENT Primary purposes of this document: Provide the overall context of the habitat on the WMA and identify the target species for

management; Identify habitat goals for WMA-specific target species, contemplating juxtaposition of all

habitat types to guide the conservation and management of sensitive or unique species or ecological communities;

Identify acreage-specific habitat goals for the WMA to guide management actions; Provide specific habitat management prescriptions that incorporate accepted best

management practices; Establish a forest management plan to meet and maintain acreage goals for various forest

successional stages; Address management limitations such as access challenges (e.g., topography); and Provide the foundation for evaluating the effectiveness of habitat management.

Within the next five years, this HMP will be integrated into a comprehensive WMA Management Plan that will include management provisions for facilitating compatible wildlife-dependent recreation, access, and facility development and maintenance.

Definitions are provided in Appendix A.

The effects of climate change and the need to facilitate wildlife adaptation under expected future conditions will be incorporated into the habitat management planning process and will be included in any actions that are recommended in the HMPs. For example, these may include concerns about invasive species, anticipated changes in stream hydrology, and the desirability for maintaining connectedness on and permeability of the landscape for species range adjustments.

This plan and the habitat management it recommends will be in compliance with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), 6NYCRR Part 617. See Appendix B. The recommended habitat management also requires review and authorization under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), prior to implementation.

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WMA OVERVIEW

LOCATION Vinegar Hill WMA is located in DEC Region 4, Town of Lexington, Greene County (Figure 1).

TOTAL AREA 401.7 acres

HABITAT INVENTORY A habitat inventory of the WMA was conducted in 2015 and is proposed to be updated every ten to fifteen years to document the existing acreage of each habitat type and to help determine the location and extent of future management actions. Table 1 summarizes the current acreage by habitat type and the desired acreage after management. Desired conditions were determined with consideration of habitat requirements of targeted wildlife, current conditions on the WMA, and conditions in the surrounding landscape (see Landscape Context section below).

Table 1. Summary of current and desired habitat acreage on Vinegar Hill WMA.

Habitat Type

Current Conditions (as of 2015) Desired Conditions

Acres Percent of WMA Miles Acres Percent of WMA

Forest a 340.3 85% 298.3 Decrease to 74% Young forest 0 0% 42.0 Increase to 11% Shrubland 6.8 2% 6.8 No Change Grassland 26.4 6% 26.4 No Change Agricultural land 0 0% 0 No Change Wetland (natural) b 8.4 2% 8.4 No Change Wetland (impounded) b 0 0% 0 No Change Open water 0 0% 0 No Change Other (utility easements) 19.8 5% 19.8 No Change Roads 0 0% 0 0 No Change Rivers and streams 1.6 No Change Total Acres: 401.7 100% 401.7 a Forest acreage includes all mature and intermediate age classes of natural forest, plantations, and forested wetlands. Young forest is reported separately. Definitions are provided in the Forest section of this plan. b Wetland acreage does not include forested wetlands, since they are included in the Forest category.

ECOLOGICAL RESOURCES Wildlife Overview: Wildlife present on Vinegar Hill WMA includes many species commonly found throughout central New York and the Catskill Mountains, such as: White-tailed deer, black bear, varying hare, fisher, bobcat American woodcock, wild turkey, ruffed grouse

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Wood turtle, Eastern box turtle Milk snake, garter snake Bullfrog, green frog, American toad, spring peeper, wood frog Eastern red-backed salamander, Eastern newt, Northern dusky salamander

Wildlife and Plant Species of Conservation Concern: The following federal or state listed Endangered (E), Threatened (T), state species of Special Concern (SC) and/or Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SCGN) may occur on the WMA (Table 2). 1 SGCN listed below include species that have been documented on or within the vicinity of the WMA that are likely to occur in suitable habitat on the WMA. Other SGCN may also be present on the WMA. Data sources include: the NY Natural Heritage Program, NY Breeding Bird Atlases,2 NY Reptile and Amphibian Atlas,3 DEC wildlife surveys and monitoring, and eBird.4

Table 2. Species of conservation concern that may be present on Vinegar Hill WMA, including state and federal Endangered (E) and Threatened (T) species, state Species of Special Concern (SC), High Priority SGCN (HP), and SGCN (x).

Species Group Species

Federal Status NY Status

NY SGCN Status

Birds American kestrel x American woodcock x Bicknell’s thrush SC HP Black-billed cuckoo x Bobolink HP Brown thrasher HP Cooper’s hawk SC Prairie warbler x Ruffed grouse x Scarlet tanager x Wood thrush x

Mammals None known

Amphibians and reptiles

Wood turtle HP Eastern box turtle HP

Fish Brook trout x

Invertebrates None known

Plants None known

1 The 2015 New York State Wildlife Action Plan identifies 366 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN)

including 167 High Priority SGCN. Available online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7179.html.

2 Available online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7312.html.

3 Available online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7140.html.

4 Available online at http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/. © Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

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http://ebird.org/content/ebird/abouthttp://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7140.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7312.htmlhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7179.html

Significant Ecological Communities: There is one rare and/or significant natural community located on Vinegar Hill WMA as identified by the NY Natural Heritage Program. The state rank reflects the rarity within NY, ranging from S1, considered the rarest, to S5, considered stable; definitions are provided in Appendix A. The following significant ecological community occurs on the WMA; the community description is from Ecological Communities of New York State, Second Edition 5 (Figure 2): Beech-maple mesic forest (S4) - A northern hardwood forest with sugar maple (Acer

saccharum) and American beech (Fagus grandifolia) codominant. This is a broadly defined community type with several regional and edaphic variants. These forests occur on moist, well-drained, usually acid soils. Common associates are yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), white ash (Fraxinus americana), hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), and red maple (Acer rubrum).

Beech-maple mesic forest is a common ecological community throughout New York State. A portion of this community is located in the far southeastern corner of the WMA. It is part of a large occurrence of beech-maple mesic forest in excellent to moderate condition with connectivity to patches of the same community type. There are no plans at this time to harvest timber from this area of the WMA.

Additional information about significant ecological communities is available in the Vinegar Hill WMA Biodiversity Inventory Final Report (1998) prepared by the NY Natural Heritage Program.

Special Management Zones: Special Management Zones (SMZs) are areas adjacent to wetlands, perennial and intermittent streams, vernal pool depressions, spring seeps, ponds and lakes, recreational trails, and other land features requiring special consideration. SMZs on Vinegar Hill WMA include: One wetland shown on the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI; Figure 3). There may be

forestry prescriptions associated with forested wetlands and adjacent areas and each management prescription will be reviewed individually for determination of impacts.

Two streams (a watercourse entirely within the WMA) or segments of streams (a stream that meanders in and out of the WMA). The highest stream classification is Class C(ts) (i.e., protected trout spawning streams) therefore they are regulated by Article 15 of the Environmental Conservation Law.6

Guidelines for habitat management projects within these areas are outlined in the Division of Lands and Forests Rules for Establishment of Special Management Zones on State Forests and Wildlife Management Areas.7 Some habitat management activities may either be prohibited or

5 Edinger, G. J., D. J. Evans, S. Gebauer, T. G. Howard, D. M. Hunt, and A. M. Olivero. 2014. Ecological Communities of New York State, Second Edition. New York Natural Heritage Program, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, NY. Available online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/97703.html. 6 Information about stream classification is available online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6042.html. 7 Available online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/104218.html.

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restricted in order to protect these features. Any deviations from these guidelines will be addressed in the individual stand prescriptions.

Soils: The soil across much of Vinegar Hill WMA is moderately deep and well drained. The timber harvest area is comprised of two main soil types, Lewbeach and Willowemoc channery silt loams (LlC) and Vly-Halcott complex(VhC). LlC soil is typically very stony with a land capability classification of 6s (have severe limitations that make them generally unsuitable for cultivation and that restrict their use mainly to pasture, rangeland, forestland, or wildlife habitat, and are typically droughty or stony) occurring on a 3-15% slope8. VhC soil is typically very rocky and moderately deep somewhat excessively drained with a land capability classification of 6s (see description above), occurring on an 8-25% slope.

LANDSCAPE CONTEXT

The goals of this HMP have been developed with consideration of surrounding landscape features, the availability of habitats and other conservation lands adjacent to Vinegar Hill WMA (Figures 4 and 5). The landscape within a three mile radius of the WMA consists of both state-owned forest and privately-owned land including9: Forests (88% combining deciduous, evergreen and mixed forests) Pasture/Hay (6%) Development (3%) Grassland (1%) Cultivated crops (1%) Woody wetlands (1%)

Vinegar Hill WMA is located within the Catskill Park. Currently, the forested landscape on the WMA and the surrounding landscape is primarily composed of mature forested habitats, including DEC owned forest preserve land. Due to the absence of young forest on the WMA and the limited amount in the surrounding landscape, it is the goal of the young forest initiative to create young forest habitat to promote regeneration of select forest stands to ensure a healthy forest in the future.

Nearby conservation land includes both New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Environmental Conservation owned land within the Catskill Park including: Bearpen Mountain State Forest Halcott Mountain Wild Forest Hunter-West Kill Wilderness Rusk Mountain Wild Forest

8 Soil classification information available from: US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Available online at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/surveylist/soils/survey/state/?stateId=NY. 9 Land cover types are from the 2011 National Land Cover Data (NLCD) and differ from the habitat types used in the WMA habitat inventory. NLCD definitions are available online at http://www.mrlc.gov/nlcd2011.php.

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II. MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES BY HABITAT TYPE DEC will continue active management of wildlife habitats on Vinegar Hill WMA to provide the following benefits: Maintain habitat characteristics that will benefit wildlife abundance and diversity within

the New York landscape.

Promote Best Management Practices for targeted wildlife and habitats. Provide opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation (such as bird watching)

compatible with the ongoing habitat management practices and species management considerations.

Improve habitat quality by reducing invasive species, if present and identified for treatment.

FOREST

Forested acreage includes the following forest types:

Natural forest: naturally forested acres, including hardwoods and softwoods. Includes any upland forested acreage that is not young forest, i.e., pole stands, other intermediate forest age classes, mature forest, and old growth forest. Plantation: planted forested acres, generally planted in rows dominated by one or two species. Forested wetland: wetland acres where forest or shrub vegetation accounts for greater than 50% of hydrophytic vegetative cover and the soil or substrate is periodically saturated or covered with water. Young forest: young or regenerating forested acres, which are typically aged 0-10 years since a disturbance or regeneration cut, depending upon the site conditions. May include both natural forest and plantations. Young forest (forested wetland): young, regenerating forested wetland acres.

Forest management on Vinegar Hill WMA incorporates an approach to create and/or maintain the diversity of forest age classes that are required to support a diversity of wildlife. In 2015, DEC launched the Young Forest Initiative (YFI) to increase the amount of young forest on WMAs to benefit wildlife that require this transitional, disturbance-dependent habitat. 10 Within the next ten years, young forest habitat (a minimum of 10% of the WMA’s forested habitat) will be created and maintained in perpetuity on this WMA.

MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES Retain 298.3 acres of existing mature forest to provide habitat for forest-interior wildlife

species such as scarlet tanager. Create 42 acres of young forest (12% of the total forested area) to improve habitat for

young forest-dependent wildlife, targeting white-tailed deer, American woodcock, and

10 Additional information about DEC’s Young Forest Initiative and the YFI Strategic Plan is available online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/104218.html.

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varying hare. Encourage dispersal of native hardwoods (cherry, oak, and hickory) and softwoods

(hemlock) to promote regeneration and increase availability of hard mast for wildlife. Plant softwoods within select harvested areas to promote quality varying hare habitat.

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING FOREST HABITAT AND TARGET SPECIES There are 340.3 forested acres on Vinegar Hill WMA. The majority of the WMA is forested surrounding a narrow stretch of grassland through the center of the WMA (Figure 6). Table 3 provides a summary of the forested areas, including the most common species found in the WMA’s forests.

Table 3. Summary of the acreage and dominant overstory species for each forest type present on Vinegar Hill WMA.

Forest Type Acres (as of 2015) Desired Acres Overstory species

Natural forest (mature/intermediate) 340.3 298.3

red maple, white oak, Eastern hemlock

Plantation 0 0 Forested wetland 0 0 Young forest 0 42 Young forest (forested wetland) 0 0 Total Forested Acres: 340.3 340.3

Target species for young forest include American woodcock, white-tailed deer, and varying hare. These species rely on forest and young forest areas for nesting, foraging, and cover and will benefit from management that creates the following habitat requirements: American woodcock:

o Singing/Peenting Ground – Open areas from 1 to >100 acres, usually in an abandoned field.

o Foraging – Moist, rich soils with dense overhead cover of young alders, aspen or birch.

o Nesting – Young, open, second growth woodlands. o Brood rearing – Similar to nesting except also including bare ground and dense

ground cover. o Roosting – Open fields (minimum of 5 acres) or blueberry fields and reverting

farm fields.11 White-tailed deer (in Northern Hardwood Forests):

o Fawning areas – Vary from open forest to hay fields to brushy cover. o Spring/Summer diet – Primarily herbaceous vegetation (clover, Rubus sp., forbs,

etc.), hardwood foliage, soft mast, and agricultural crops where available. o Fall diet – Hard mast, preferably acorns, hardwood foliage, and agricultural crops

where available.

11 US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2010. American Woodcock: Habitat Best Management Practices for the Northeast by Scot J. Williamson. Wildlife Insight. Washington, DC.

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http:fields.11

o Winter diet – Hardwood buds, fallen leaves, hard mast and conifers, preferably white cedar.

o Bedding cover – Varies from open hardwoods with laydowns to dense thickets of early succession shrublands or hard and softwood regeneration. 12

Varying (snowshoe) hare:

o Protective cover – Well-developed woody understory and densely covered fields

of herbaceous vegetation and dense thickets. Ideally, dense stands of conifer (8-16 feet) for daytime sanctuary from visual predators.

o Foraging – Summer needs are met through herbaceous vegetation in areas with dense cover while winter needs include taller shrubs and young trees that are not covered by snow. Woody browse is critical during the winter months. Young conifer stands (16-50 feet) offer dense thermal cover, food, and travel corridors between resting and feeding areas. 13

MANAGEMENT HISTORY There has been very little forest management on Vinegar Hill WMA since the state obtained the property in the 1970s. The only management was a portion of Stand 1 that was cut in the 1980s.

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE The following management is proposed in order to reach the young forest acreage goal of 42 acres within ten years:

Management planned for 2016-2020 (Table 4, Figure 6): o Clearcut red maple and white ash in Stand 1 (14 acres) to promote natural

hardwood regeneration in combination with a spruce planting. o Perform initial shelterwood cut in Stands 4 and 6 (23 acres) to promote

regeneration of hardwoods and softwoods.

Management planned for 2021-2025 (Table 5, Figure 6):

o Perform a seed tree cut in Stand 3 (5 acres) to create young forest. o Perform shelterwood overstory removal (final harvest) in Stands 4 and 6 (23

acres).

Table 4. Forest management schedule for the first five-year period of this HMP (2016-2020).

Stand Acres Size Class Forest Type Management

Direction Treatment Type Current Future

1 13.5 Seedling/Sapling

Table 4. Continued

Stand Acres Size Class Forest Type Management

Direction Treatment Type Current Future

4 7.6 Small sawtimber 12”-17”DBH

Northern hardwood-hemlock

Young Forest Wildlife Shelterwood

6 15.7 Small sawtimber 12”-17”DBH Hemlock Young Forest Wildlife Shelterwood

Table 5. Forest management schedule for the second five-year period of this HMP (2021-2025).

Stand Acres Size Class Forest Type Management

Direction Treatment Type Current Future

3 5.3 Small sawtimber 12”-17”DBH Northern hardwood

Young Forest Wildlife Seed Tree

4 7.6 Small sawtimber 12”-17”DBH Northern hardwood

Young Forest Wildlife Shelterwood

6 15.7 Small sawtimber 12”-17”DBH Hemlock Young Forest Wildlife Shelterwood

Stand locations and planned management actions are also summarized in Figure 6. Specific forest stand descriptions and detailed management prescriptions will be prepared for each proposed forest management area prior to implementation (see template, Appendix C). Briefly, habitat management for each of these stands will include the following: Stand 1: A northern hardwood stand, consisting mainly of red maple in the

seedling/sapling size class. A portion of Stand 1 was cut in the 1980s to promote deer browse availability. Red maple within the stand was encouraged to stump sprout, and in its current structure provides limited wildlife value. Fourteen acres of this stand will be clearcut through a mechanical harvest with a forestry mower or in conjunction with the commercial timber harvest in stands 4 and 6. A patchwork of natural and artificial regeneration will be used to create young forest in this stand. Natural regeneration and the planting of Norway spruce and white spruce will provide nesting areas, cover and a food source for the targeted species.

Stands 4 and 6: Consist primarily of northern hardwoods and hemlock in the small sawtimber size class. Approximately 23 acres of these stands, 7.6 acres in Stand 4 and 15.7 acres in Stand 6, will be harvested using the shelterwood regeneration method. Both stands will be allowed to regenerate naturally and overstory removal will occur approximately 8 years after the initial harvest. The increase in understory vegetation will provide cover and food for white-tailed deer and varying hare.

Stand 3: A northern hardwood stand with a size class of small sawtimber. A portion of this stand (5.3 acres) will be harvested using the seed tree method, favoring black cherry and sugar maple as residuals to provide mast for wildlife and seed for natural regeneration. The initial cut will provide a food source and cover in the form of slash and

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the resulting regeneration will provide additional habitat for the targeted species. This stand will be evaluated for possible overstory removal at a later date.

Forest management prescriptions on this WMA will focus on both natural and artificial regeneration to create quality habitat for American woodcock, white-tailed deer and varying hare. Management in Stands 1 and 3 will follow suggested best management practices for American woodcock14. Invasive species (such as honeysuckle and barberry) within Stands 1, 3, 4 and 6 will be controlled through chemical or mechanical means, if needed.

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Forest management on all WMAs follows Best Management Practices to protect soil and water resources, promote quality wildlife habitat, and establish healthy forests (Table 6).

Table 6. Best Management Practices for forest management on WMAs. Resource Guidance Document 15

Soils Rutting Guidelines for Timber Harvesting on Wildlife Management Areas Water quality NYS Forestry Best Management Practices for Water Quality Wildlife Retention Guidance on Wildlife Management Areas Plantations Plantation Management Guidance on Wildlife Management Areas

Wildlife Considerations: Due to the sensitivity of endangered, threatened, or SGCN birds potentially found on the WMA, cutting of trees and/or brush will be conducted outside the breeding time period if the species are known to be on the area or within close proximity.

Forest Health Considerations: Vinegar Hill WMA was historically managed as a deer wintering yard. Deer populations, as indicated by buck harvest in the Wildlife Management Unit that this property is in, peaked in the early 1980s and have been in decline since. Current harvests are near historic lows. Deer are a targeted species for this WMA and their population is expected to increase from the planned habitat management. Though hunting does occur on properties surrounding the WMA, the lack of hunting pressure within Vinegar Hill WMA could also contribute to an increase in population. Potential negative impacts to regeneration from deer herbivory is not anticipated. Deer exclosures exist within the WMA and additional exclosures will be erected to monitor deer browse in the harvested stands.

Invasive species of plants currently present within the WMA include multiflora rose, barberry, honeysuckle and burning bush. Invasive species density at this WMA is currently limited by canopy cover. Commercial harvest of timber at this site could potentially increase the habitat suitability for these species. Recolonization of the harvested stands by invasives or other

14 US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2010. American Woodcock: Habitat Best Management Practices for the Northeast by Scot J. Williamson. Wildlife Insight. Washington, DC. 15 All guidance documents referenced here are available online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/104218.html.

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undesirable species will be monitored closely and chemical or mechanical control measures will be implemented pre/post-harvest if needed.

Pre- and Post-treatment Considerations: Undesirable competing tree and shrub species, as well as invasive plant species, will be controlled or removed using herbicide application or mechanical means. Planting of acceptable tree species will be accomplished through proper hand planting methods.

Pre- and post-treatment actions to promote the desired forest regeneration will be addressed in greater detail in the silvicultural prescriptions.

MANAGEMENT EVALUATION In order to determine whether the desired forest regeneration and wildlife responses have been achieved by the management outlined above, pre- and post-management assessments will be conducted in accord with guidelines in the Young Forest Initiative Monitoring Plan: 2016-2025.16 The Monitoring Plan establishes statewide standards for evaluating vegetation and target wildlife responses to forest management to determine if the outcome is as prescribed. Regeneration assessments will be conducted within one year of harvest completion, three, and five years after the harvest or until the forester determines adequate natural or artificial (i.e., planting) regeneration has been securely established. YFI wildlife target species selected for Vinegar Hill WMA, which may be assessed to determine response to management, include: American woodcock White-tailed deer Varying hare

SHRUBLAND

Shrublands are early successional habitats dominated by woody plants typically less than ten feet tall with scattered open patches of grasses and forbs that provide floristic diversity. Typically characterized by >50% cover of shrubs and

with no input from the DEC. These habitats benefit a suite of wildlife species including several of the YFI target species, including: Varying hare American woodcock Ruffed grouse White-tailed deer

MANAGEMENT HISTORY Shrubland habitat has not been managed on Vinegar Hill WMA since the state obtained the property in the 1970s.

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE Management planned for 2016-2025 (Figure 6):

o Passive management approach to allow natural succession of the 7 acre shrubland.

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES None.

MANAGEMENT EVALUATION None.

GRASSLAND

Grasslands are open, grassy areas with a minimal amount of shrub and tree cover (

American kestrel

Eastern bluebird

American woodcock

Ruffed grouse

MANAGEMENT HISTORY Grassland habitat on Vinegar Hill WMA has been historically managed by DEC Operations and through an agricultural cooperative agreement.

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE Management planned for 2016-2025 (Figure 6, Table 7):

o Continue mowing grassland fields (Stand 2) on an annual, biennial, or triennial basis depending on vegetation growth to prevent woody growth while also allowing for thatch.

o Place bluebird houses to provide additional nesting opportunities.

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES Date restrictions for mowing in grassland fields will be followed to protect bird species utilizing the habitat for nesting.

MANAGEMENT EVALUATION Grasslands will be monitored for invasive and undesirable species and control will be initiated if feasible.

AGRICULTURAL LAND

Agricultural lands on WMAs include any acreage on which crops are grown, primarily areas that are under cooperative agreements or farming contracts, but also including wildlife food plots.

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING AGRICULTURAL LANDS AND TARGET SPECIES There is no acreage on Vinegar Hill WMA managed as agricultural land and no plan to develop such habitat.

WETLANDS (NATURAL AND IMPOUNDED)

Natural wetlands are areas where the soil or substrate is periodically saturated or covered with water, including emergent (perennial herbaceous vegetation accounts for >50% of hydrophytic vegetative cover) and scrub-shrub wetlands (woody vegetation under 20 feet tall accounts for >50% of hydrophytic vegetative cover). Impounded wetlands are areas similar to natural wetlands, but where water is held back by a berm, road, or other structure. Forested wetlands are addressed in the Forest section above.

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MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES Maintain 8 acres of wetlands as they currently exist. Maintain habitat for wetland-dependent wildlife such as beaver and muskrat.

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING WETLAND HABITAT AND TARGET SPECIES There are 8 acres of natural wetlands on Vinegar Hill WMA (Figure 3). The wetlands consist of scrub/shrub and emergent wetlands. The wetlands are diverse and provide habitat for species such as: American woodcock Beaver Muskrat Migratory waterfowl

MANAGEMENT HISTORY Wetland habitat has not been managed on Vinegar Hill WMA since the state obtained the property in the 1970s.

OPEN WATER (WATERBODIES AND WATERCOURSES)

Open water is defined as any area of open water, generally with less than 25% cover of vegetation or soil and typically named (e.g., Perch Lake, South Colwell Pond).

DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING OPEN WATER HABITAT AND TARGET SPECIES There are two streams or segments of streams on the WMA totaling about 1.6 miles, the West Kill and Roarback Brook. Both streams are classified as Class C(ts) (protected trout spawning streams) and a survey conducted in 2008 confirmed the presence of brook trout in Roarback Brook. There are two sections of Roarback Brook that, due to recent beaver activity, currently have ponded water. Beyond these streams, there is no other open water (no named lakes or ponds) or any plan to develop such habitat.

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HABITAT MANAGEMENT SUMMARY

In summary, Table 7 lists the habitat management actions planned for Vinegar Hill WMA over the next ten years. Any substantive changes will be appended to this HMP annually or as needed (Appendix D).

Table 7. Summary of habitat management actions recommended for Vinegar Hill WMA, 2016-2025. (Also see Figure 6.)

Habitat Management Action Acres Timeframe

Forest Clearcut northern hardwoods in Stand 1. 14 2016-2020

Forest Perform initial shelterwood cut within Stands 4 and 6 to promote hardwood and softwood regeneration. 23 2016-2020

Forest Perform a seed tree cut in Stand 3 to create young forest habitat. 5 2021-2025

Forest Perform shelterwood overstory removal (final cut) in Stands 4 and 6. 23 2021-2025

Grassland

Continue mowing grassland fields (Stands 2 and 8) on an annual, biennial, or triennial basis depending on vegetation growth to allow for thatch and prevent woody growth.

26 Annual, biennial, or triennial

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III. FIGURES

FIGURE 1. Location and access features at Vinegar Hill WMA.

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FIGURE 2. Significant ecological communities on Vinegar Hill WMA. Data from the NY Natural Heritage Program.

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FIGURE 3. Wetlands, open water, and streams of Vinegar Hill WMA. Note: Wetland boundaries are not exact and may not be used for regulatory purposes without a current delineation.

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FIGURE 4. Land cover types and conservation lands in the landscape surrounding Vinegar Hill WMA. Conservation lands are from the NY Protected Areas Database available online at http://www.nypad.org/. Land cover types are from the 2011 National Land Cover Data (NLCD) and differ from the habitat types used in the WMA habitat Inventory. NLCD definitions are available online at http://www.mrlc.gov/nlcd2011.php.

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http://www.mrlc.gov/nlcd2011.phphttp:http://www.nypad.org

     

   

   

   

 

        

Developed, Open Space 3%

Deciduous Forest 69%

Evergreen Forest 10%

Mixed Forest 9%

Grassland/Herbaceous 1%

Pasture/Hay 6%

Cultivated Crops 1%

Woody Wetlands 1%

FIGURE 5. Percent cover of land cover types within three miles of Vinegar Hill WMA.

Land cover types are from the 2011 National Land Cover Data (NLCD) and differ from the habitat types used in the WMA habitat inventory. NLCD definitions are available online at http://www.mrlc.gov/nlcd2011.php.

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http://www.mrlc.gov/nlcd2011.php

FIGURE 6. Habitat types and locations of proposed management on Vinegar Hill WMA. Numbers indicate the stand number from habitat inventory.

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IV. APPENDICES

APPENDIX A: DEFINITIONS

The following key words were used in the development of this Habitat Management Plan. Definitions are from The Dictionary of Forestry, Society of American Foresters, J. A. Helms, Editor, unless otherwise noted.

Best Management Practices: (BMP) A practice or combination of practices that are determined to be the most effective and practicable means of avoiding negative impacts of habitat management.

Biodiversity: The variety and abundance of life forms, processes, functions, and structures of plants, animals, and other living organisms, including the relative complexity of species, communities, gene pools, and ecosystems at multiple spatial scales.

Clearcut method: A forest regeneration or harvest method that entails the cutting of essentially all trees, producing a fully exposed microclimate for the development of a new age class. Depending on management objectives, a clearcut may or may not have reserve trees left to attain goals other than regeneration.

Community: An assemblage of plants and animals interacting with one another, occupying a habitat, and often modifying the habitat; a variable assemblage of plant and animal populations sharing a common environment and occurring repeatedly in the landscape. (NY Natural Heritage Program)

Endangered Species: Any species listed on the current state or federal endangered species list as being in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

Forb: Any broad-leafed, herbaceous plant other than those in the Poaceae (Gramineae), Cyperaceae, and Juncaceae families (i.e., not grass-like).

Forest: An ecosystem characterized by a dense and extensive tree cover, often consisting of stands varying in characteristics such as species composition, structure, age class, and associated processes, and commonly including meadows, streams, fish, and wildlife.

Forest Health: The condition of a forest derived from concerns about such factors as its age, structure, composition, function, vigor, presence of unusual levels of insects or disease, and resilience to disturbance.

Grassland Focus Area: Regions of NY that support key, residual populations of grassland birds. There are currently eight focus areas, within which there is a concentrated conservation effort for these species. (A Plan for Conserving Grassland Birds in New York, Audubon NY.)

Habitat: A place that provides seasonal or year round food, water, shelter, or other environmental conditions for an organism, community, or population of plants or animals.

Hardwood: A broad leaved, flowering tree belonging to the botanical group Angiospermae, such as red maple, yellow birch, American beech, black cherry, etc.

Impoundment: A pond caused by a dam across a stream and used for purposes such as water supply, water power, or wildlife habitat. (Edinger et al. 2002. Ecological Communities of New York State, Appendix B)

Landscape: A spatial mosaic of several ecosystems, landforms, and plant communities across a defined area irrespective of ownership or other artificial boundaries and repeated in similar form throughout.

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Mast: The fruit of trees considered as food for wildlife. Hard mast is the fruits or nuts of trees such as oak, beech, walnut, and hickories. Soft mast is the fruits and berries from plants such as dogwood, viburnum, elderberry, huckleberry, hawthorn, grape, raspberry, and blackberry.

Multiple Use Area: Lands that were acquired by DEC to provide outdoor recreation and wherever possible the conservation and development of natural resources. As their name suggests, they are to be managed for a broader range of public use. (Public Use of Lands Managed by the Bureau of Wildlife)

Native: A plant or animal indigenous to a particular locality.

Old Growth Forest: Forest with an abundance of late successional tree species, at least 180 ‐ 200 years of age in a contiguous forested landscape that has evolved and reproduced itself naturally, with the capacity for self-perpetuation, arranged in a stratified forest structure consisting of multiple growth layers throughout the canopy and forest floor, featuring canopy gaps formed by natural disturbances creating an uneven canopy, and a conspicuous absence of multiple stemmed trees. (Adapted from the NYS Strategic Plan for State Forest Management)

Pole: A tree of a size between a sapling (1” to 5” diameter at breast height) and a mature tree.

Regeneration Cut: A cutting procedure by which a new forest age class is created; the major methods are clearcutting, seed tree, shelterwood, selection, and coppice. The Young Forest Initiative includes these silvicultural treatments: clearcuts, seed tree cuts, and shelterwood cuts. Salvage (following a natural disturbance) will be considered based on the size and scope of the disturbance.

Seed Tree Cut Method: A forest regeneration or harvest method that entails cutting of all trees except for a small number of widely dispersed trees retained for seed production and to produce a new age class in fully exposed microenvironment.

Shelterwood Cut Method: A forest regeneration or harvest method that entails the cutting of most trees, leaving those needed to produce sufficient shade to produce a new age class in a moderated microenvironment.

Shrubland: A community dominated by woody plants typically less than ten feet tall with scattered open patches of grasses and forbs that provide floristic diversity. Typically characterized by >50% cover of shrubs and

(Edinger et al. 2002. Ecological Communities of New York State, Appendix A)

Stand: In forestry, a contiguous group of trees sufficiently uniform in age-class distribution, composition, and structure, and growing on a site of sufficiently uniform quality, to be a distinguishable and manageable unit. In this HMP, the term “stand” is also applied to other habitat types (e.g., grassland, shrubland) to describe an area composed of similar vegetation composition and structure, as delineated during the habitat inventory.

Stand Prescription: A planned series of treatments designed to change current stand structure to one that meets management goals. Note: the prescription normally considers ecological, economic, and societal constraints.

Target Species: A suite of high priority wildlife species of conservation interest that are being targeted to benefit from management of a particular habitat type.

Unique Area: Lands that were acquired by DEC for their special natural beauty, wilderness character, geological, ecological, or historical significance for inclusion in the state nature and historical preserve. The primary purpose of these lands is to protect the feature of significance that led to the land being acquired by the state. (Public Use of Lands Managed by the Bureau of Wildlife)

Upland: Sites with well-drained soils that are dry to mesic (never hydric). (Edinger et al. 2002. Ecological Communities of New York State, Appendix B)

Wetland: “Freshwater wetlands means lands and waters of the state as shown on the freshwater wetlands map which contain any or all of the following:

(a) lands and submerged lands commonly called marshes, swamps, sloughs, bogs, and flats supporting aquatic or semi-aquatic vegetation of the following types: wetland trees, wetland shrubs, emergent vegetation, rooted, floating-leaved vegetation, free-floating vegetation, wet meadow vegetation, bog mat vegetation, and submergent vegetation;

(b) lands and submerged lands containing remnants of any vegetation that is not aquatic or semi-aquatic that has died because of wet conditions over a sufficiently long period, provided that such wet conditions do not exceed a maximum seasonal water depth of six feet and provided further that such conditions can be expected to persist indefinitely, barring human intervention;

(c) lands and waters substantially enclosed by aquatic or semi-aquatic vegetation as set forth in paragraph (a) or by dead vegetation as set forth in paragraph (b) the regulation of which is necessary to protect and preserve the aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation as set forth in paragraph (a) or by dead vegetation as set forth in paragraph (b) the regulation of which is necessary to protect and preserve the aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation; and

(d) the waters overlying the areas set forth in (a) and (b) and the lands underlying.” (Refer to NYS Environmental Conservation Law, Article 24 § 24-0107 for full definition.)

Wildlife Management Area: Lands that were acquired by DEC primarily for the production and use of wildlife, including hunting and trapping. These areas provide and protect wildlife habitats that are particularly significant in their capacity to harbor rare, threatened or endangered species, host unusual concentrations of one or more wildlife species, provide an important resting and feeding area for migratory birds, provide important nesting or breeding area for one or more species of wildlife, or provide significant value for wildlife or human enjoyment of wildlife. (Public Use of Lands Managed by the Bureau of Wildlife)

Young Forest: Forests that result from a regeneration cut, typically having a dense understory where tree seedlings, saplings, woody vines, shrubs, and herbaceous vegetation grow together. Young forests are typically 0-10 years old. (Adapted from www.youngforest.org). It is acknowledged that “young forests” will differ in their character in different ecological areas of the state and that 0-10 years is a continuum into more mature forest types. (Refer to: A DEC Strategic Plan for Implementing the Young Forest Initiative on Wildlife Management Areas 2015-2020)

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http:www.youngforest.org

APPENDIX B. STATEMENT OF CONFORMITY WITH SEQRA

Habitat Management Plans will be in compliance with the 1979 Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on Habitat Management Activities of the Department of Environmental Conservation; Division of Fish and Wildlife by following the criteria for site specific assessments included in this Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and by discussing further in Appendix B, Statement of Conformity with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). Appendix B will be included in each plan, thereby satisfying overall compliance with 6 NYCRR Part 617, the State Environmental Quality Review. If any of these criteria are exceeded an additional site specific environmental review will be required.

Most activities recommended in this HMP are a continuation of habitat management that DEC routinely conducts under the Programmatic EIS. Beginning in 2015, DEC’s Young Forest Initiative (YFI) will considerably increase forest management on Wildlife Management Areas (WMA); YFI’s conformity with SEQRA is specifically addressed below. The overarching goal of the YFI is to restore and maintain young forest habitat on WMAs in order to address the declining amount of young forest habitat in the state and provide habitat for key species of conservation interest, including both at-risk and game species. The habitat management activities to be carried out under the YFI are in compliance with the above referenced document and these management activities:

Will not adversely affect threatened or endangered plants or animals or their habitat. o Careful review of the NY Natural Heritage Program’s “Natural Heritage Element Occurrence”

database in conjunction with a field survey when necessary prior to management activities taking place allows field staff to assess the presence or absence of threatened and endangered species. Appropriate actions will be taken if a threatened or endangered plant or animal is encountered in the project area including, but not limited to: establishing adequate buffer zones around known occurrences, moving the project area, or aborting the project altogether.

Will not induce or accelerate significant change in land use. o The forestland affected by the YFI will be regenerated and remain forested land, therefore no land

use change will take place. Will not induce significant change in ambient air, soil, or water quality.

o All projects carried out under the YFI will protect air, soil and water quality through careful project planning, use of appropriate NYS Best Management Practices for Water Quality, and establishment of Special Management Zones around sensitive land and water features requiring special consideration.

Will not conflict with established plans or policies of other state or federal agencies. o YFI projects will follow established plans or policies of other state and federal agencies.

Additionally, all YFI projects will be in compliance with all relevant US Fish and Wildlife Service rules and regulations.

Will not induce significant change in public attraction or use. o The WMA program is part of a long term effort to establish permanent access to lands in New

York State for the protection and promotion of its fish and wildlife resources. Projects carried out under the YFI will continue to protect, promote and maintain public access to WMAs and their wildlife resources.

Will not significantly deviate from effects of natural processes which formed or maintain area. o Habitat management projects under the YFI will be carried out primarily through even-aged forest

management. Even-aged silvicultural systems are designed to mimic natural disturbances, such as flooding, wildfire, insect and disease outbreaks and storm damage often found in nature.

Will not result in areas of significantly different character or ecological processes. o The even-aged silvicultural techniques that will be employed for habitat management projects

under the YFI intentionally result in areas of different character and ecological processes. However, they are not considered significant as they are ephemeral or transitional and will not permanently alter the landscape.

Will not affect important known historical or archeological sites. o Each YFI project will be reviewed by DEC’s State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) as well

as the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) to determine whether

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project sites may potentially affect any historical or archeological sites. In addition, thorough field review prior to management activities taking place allows field staff to assess the presence or absence of any apparent historical or archeological sites that may not be found during the review process. Should known important historical or archeological sites present themselves necessary actions will be taken to protect these resources under the direction of DEC’s SHPO and the OPRHP Archaeology Unit staff.

Will not involve the application of herbicides, pesticides or other such chemicals. o YFI projects may involve the judicious use of pesticides which may be necessary to control

invasive species, to protect rare and endangered plants from competition, or to control vegetation interfering with forest regeneration. If projects do require the use of herbicides or pesticides an additional site-specific environmental review will be required.

Will not stimulate significant public controversy. o It is not anticipated that YFI projects will stimulate significant public controversy. A significant

amount of public outreach and notification will be conducted on an on-going basis as well as prior to projects being implemented on the ground including, but not limited to: public information sessions regarding the Habitat Management Plans for each WMA, signage installation at project sites informing the public of the scope and purpose of the project, establishment of one demonstration area in each region to showcase YFI management techniques to the public, periodic informational articles published in local media outlets and the development of a public YFI website. The YFI has one full time position dedicated to facilitating the program’s public outreach and communication efforts.

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APPENDIX C: FOREST MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS

PRESCRIPTION FOR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA TIMBER HARVEST

Region: Wildlife Management Area: Stand number: Stand acreage:

Species composition:

Basal area: Trees per acre: Mean stand diameter:

Stand inventory or analysis date:

Regeneration data:

Natural Heritage Element Occurrence layer review:

SMZ layer review:

Retention data:

Soil types and drainage:

Interfering vegetation:

Acres to be treated: Target basal area:

Technical guidance/stocking guide:

Treatment purpose:

Management Objective: Even aged or Uneven Aged

-If even aged, specify treatment (i.e. shelterwood, seed tree, clearcut)

Clearcut acreage and configuration: (if applicable)

Natural Heritage /MHDB considerations and mitigation: (if applicable)

Retention considerations and adjustments:

Treatment descriptions:

Name and Title of Preparer:

Central Office Lands and Forests Staff Date

Regional Wildlife Manager Date

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PRESCRIPTION NOTES

Species Composition: At a minimum, the three most common species found in the overstory should be included, assuming at least three species comprise the stand. Species that individually constitute less than 5% of the stand may be lumped together as “Other” or “Miscellaneous.” For instance, if beech, hemlock and yellow birch each make up 3% of the stand, they may be lumped together as “Other – 9%.”

Natural Heritage Element Occurrence layer review: List those species that the Natural Heritage Element Occurrence (EO) data layer indicates are or were known to be present in the stand, or could be affected by treatments to the stand. For instance, if a rare fish was indicated in a water body that is a short distance downstream of a creek that flows through the stand, it should be listed in the prescription.

SMZ layer review: The SMZ data layer includes Special Management Zones around all streams and wetlands, as well as vernal pools, spring seeps and recreation areas that staff have mapped and digitized. If any of these features are mapped incorrectly or are missing from current data layers, staff can correct their locations by editing their office layers.

Retention data: Include numbers of existing snags, cavity trees, Coarse Woody Material, Fine Woody Material, and legacy trees. Ocular estimates are acceptable.

Soil types and drainage: Specifically named soil types are useful, but not necessarily required. “Flat, sandy, well-drained hilltop” or “Steep, gravelly, moderately well-drained mid-slope” may be just as useful as “Hershiser-Koufax Sandy Silt Loam” in describing the soil conditions as they relate to management decisions. The important point is to note those characteristics that may limit equipment operation or establishment of regeneration. Soil type data is available for some counties on the Data Selector.

Interfering vegetation: Indicate the existing amount of interfering vegetation such as beech, striped maple, fern, etc. This may be quantified using mil-acre plots or by ocular estimate.

Technical guidance used: This may include stocking guides, articles found in technical journals, textbooks or other silviculture-related publications. Other sources of guidance may be acceptable as well.

Treatment purpose: As used here, “treatment purpose” and “management objective” (see below) are two different things. Also, “treatment purpose” is not what is to be done (i.e., “reduce basal area by 25%” or “remove every third row”), but rather is an explanation of why it is being done (i.e., “stimulate regeneration and increase growth of residual stand” or “regenerate current stand and convert to young forest”).

Management objective: As used here, the term “management objective” is somewhat general. At a minimum, the prescription should indicate the desired future age structure and stand type. An entry as general as “Even aged hardwood” is acceptable, but regional staff may be more specific if they so choose. The management objective for a stand may be specified in the Habitat Management Plan (HMP) for the Wildlife Management Area in question. If the existing HMP does not specify the management objective regional staff should choose the management objective when the prescription is written.

Clearcut acreage and configuration: If the harvest involves one single clearcut, indicate the total contiguous area, in acres. If the harvest comprises more than one clearcut, indicate the total combined area of clearcuts, as well as the area of the largest clearcut.

Natural Heritage/MHDB considerations: Indicate what measures will be taken to protect those elements or features that were found in the review of the Natural Heritage Element Occurrence and Special Management Zone (not applicable yet) layers.

Retention considerations: Indicate whether or not existing levels meet the standards set forth in the Division’s policy on Retention on State Forests, or whether they are expected to do so as a result of the proposed treatment. Also indicate if or how the treatment was adjusted in order to improve compliance with the policy standards.

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Treatment description: The intended treatment should be clearly described. The amount of information necessary to accomplish this will vary greatly. For instance, in a row thinning of a pole timber sized plantation that had no SMZs or other special features, it may be sufficient to simply indicate “Remove two out of every six rows, taking two adjacent rows and leaving four rows between successive pairs being removed.” An intermediate thinning in a sawtimber sized hardwood stand with a recreational trail, two streams and a known occurrence of an endangered plant community would require significantly more detail. One rule of thumb that could be used is to describe the treatment so that a qualified forestry professional could use it to assist in marking the harvest.

Additionally, since we are focused on creating young forests you should also address the presence/absence of advanced regeneration. If you are planning on clearcutting without advanced regeneration, address how you are going to mitigate that. For example, “This aspen stand will be clearcut and it is anticipated that future regeneration will be established through aspen root sprouting”. Or, “This stand will be clearcut and replanted with Norway spruce to establish conifer cover.”

Furthermore, if you are planning on conducting a shelterwood or seed tree cut, please indicate when you are planning on returning to the stand to conduct the final harvest (overstory removal).

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APPENDIX D: AMENDMENTS

Any substantive changes to the habitat management described in this plan will be amended to the plan annually or as needed. Such changes may include: land acquisition, unforeseen natural disturbance, or any other change that alters the need for or the scope, method, or timing of management.

FY 16-17 (4/1/16 - 3/31/17)

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TABLE OF CONTENTSLIST OF FIGURESSUMMARYI. BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTIONPURPOSE OF HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLANSWMA OVERVIEWLANDSCAPE CONTEXT

II. MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES BY HABITAT TYPEFORESTSHRUBLANDGRASSLANDAGRICULTURAL LANDWETLANDS (NATURAL AND IMPOUNDED)OPEN WATER (WATERBODIES AND WATERCOURSES)HABITAT MANAGEMENT SUMMARY

III. FIGURESIV. APPENDICESAPPENDIX A: DEFINITIONSAPPENDIX B. STATEMENT OF CONFORMITY WITH SEQRAAPPENDIX C: FOREST MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONSAPPENDIX D: AMENDMENTS